Ancient DNA preservation, genetic diversity and biogeography: A study of houseflies from Roman Qasr Ibrim, lower Nubia, Egypt

摘要: Abstract The optimal preservation of many Egyptian archaeological sites provides unique opportunities in the research into evolution synanthropic species, wild animals or plants, which benefit from close association with man-made human habitats. In this study we extracted and analysed ancient mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) three insect two storage pests, Sitophilus granarius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) (N = 8) Trogoderma granarium Dermestidae) (N = 14), housefly Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae), Roman Qasr Ibrim, an frontier site located lower Nubia. impact different experimental variables on recovery was also evaluated, confirming that it is possible to extract endogenous desiccated specimens while preserving exoskeleton. A phylogenetic comparison Ibrim mtDNA-COI (COI) modern sequences, revealed they were genetically similar Egyptian, Near Eastern, Indian, Japanese, US/Canadian populations. As now cosmopolitan houseflies transported by populations alongside domestic crops may have aided spread disease, these findings provide important information for processes. While limited resolution comparative databases, our suggests existence biological invasions links across Red Sea Egypt Arabian Peninsula, exchanges between India Egypt. We demonstrate great potential fossil aDNA reconstructing biogeographic diachronic species distribution better understanding past environments.